Cooking…is it a science, a talent, a learned skill or a super power? Alton Brown would have you believe that it is all science. Perhaps it is his Bill Nye the Science Guy approach to cooking or maybe it’s his glasses and his delivery, but when he speaks of culinary work, I feel like I should have a lab coat and step into a clean room. When I hear Chef Samuelson you would believe that it is all talent. His observations and opinions would have you believe that is the only thing that determines a chef’s success. Chef Zakarian would have you believe that it is a learned skill. His speech comes from a place that only the most experienced and educated can begin to comprehend. The super power…that is definitely Pink. She just woke up one morning and could burn like nobody’s business. Who thinks of Red Velvet Pancakes, Brown Sugar Glazed Lamb Chops, and Sweet Potato Pie Waffles with Salted Bourbon Caramel Sauce? Seriously…who comes up with this stuff?

The Thanksgiving combinations – not the least of which being an actually moist turkey breast seasoned with sage and orange and a beautiful cranberry sauce made with a Port and Lemon Zest – are and have been so crazy good that when we hosted dinners at the house the masses grew from 15 to over 75 in a 3 year period. Even with the popularity of our destination, we never gave thought to actually making this a career choice. Even with the knowledge that when you find something you love, you will never work a day in your life, we never gave it real thought. The breakfast/brunch shin digs – highlighted by Sweet Potato Pie Waffles, Red Velvet Pancakes, Maple Glazed Applewood Smoked Bacon, Crab and Shrimp Frittatas and the like — put us over the top. When the food hits the table and the hungry masses descend like a swarm of locusts, you know that the table is supporting some good stuff. And yet we still did not recognize the strength of her mutant powers. Then there was Mover and Shaker. This is our dear friend who has been there from the beginning of our little romance as well as our journey into self determination. She is the single greatest networker on the Western Hemisphere. Seriously, she is connected to everybody. Her threats of outing us in the SF Street Food Festival actually pushed our little get together operation to a real public situation. Now the world – well a lot of people anyway — has seen the blinding glory of Pink Power. She glides through the kitchen with a stream of color (largely because she has an affinity for her Pinx T-shirt) with a dash of this and a pinch of that. She utilizes the force or some other super sensory perception to make everything taste good. I really don’t know how she does it. If she were to write a cook book…she would have to take three months alone to figure out her measurements. She has her pet seasonings (I am afraid if I expose the goods, I may never again be allowed to partake in the wonderful creations) which I cannot tell you. The secret sauce must remain a secret. So today we have mostly recuperated from last week (3 jobs – too much for our little crew). This week we are preparing our Thanksgiving Dinner orders, acquiring our first fleet vehicle and working out the logistics for our participation in the Jovance Winter Wonderland, December to Remember Holiday Festivus event. Translation, we are working out the details for our menu options as well as selecting shirt colors. So for those of you, who have seen and requested a shirt, come find us December 10th. Rumor has it the waffles will be making an appearance. Life is short…eat something memorable.

This has been an incredible week. 3 jobs of varying difficulty have tested our resolve and mature bodies…why couldn’t we do this when we were in our twenties? So we had a mixer for the BNI Giants which was a banging success. We had a lunch delivery for the City of Richmond (another winner) and on Saturday we have an employee appreciation event for Kai-zen Accounting. We have worked 19 hour days and you can imagine we are tired. I think that we both took naps today — why do we stop taking naps after kindergarten? Those naps are so precious these days. If there was only an energy drink that could deliver the same boost as a nap. Man that would be a major league marketing deal.

So last night we were in the beautiful offices of Hamilton Aitken Architects for the BNI Giants After Hours Mixer. We enjoyed the artistry of the Shen YunDance Troupe and the company of the matriarch of Ellis Brooks Chevrolet. The best part of the evening was how well the dishes (red velvet trifle, BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders, Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings, Crab and Shrimp on Blue Corn and Chili Lime Crackers, and Ham and Gruyere Puff Pastry) were received. The marketing maven of Shen Yun was able to pin Pink down and show her IPad presentation, so I think I may be taking the family to see that cultural experience full of positive energy instead of Cirque de Soleilthis year. We had a crew at that event the usual suspects: Benjamin Button and Sarge. After the job, we had to return to the waffle cave to prep for the City of Richmond. The City job allowed us to spread our vision to a wider audience. I hear there is a semi pro basketball team in Richmond. I understand that there is a void left by that NBA lockout but seriously…if Coach Carter as played by Samuel L. Jackson isn’t on the sidelines, who would spend their money for bball without star power? I’m just saying. But then again the Fish that Saved Pittsburg is a classic flick based on ABA stars. The ABA brought some real talent to the NBA so it pays to keep the minds eye open.So tonight, after work we are putting in work on our job for Saturday. We had some new visitors to our secret lair…the Johnson Family (as always the names are changed to protect the innocent). So the Johnson’s (the american family with 2.5 children — Forest Gump who can’t go anywhere without running and Ate and the dogs) are good friends with whom we have not spent time in awhile. It was good catching up. The best part was how people develop their own speech. Why do I say that? Miriam Webster never heard the terms we created tonight…breads ( I thought bread was both the singular and the plural forms), puffin pastry (in lieu of Puff Pastry), shrab (the hybrid form of Shrimp and Crab). When you work long hours the synapses don’t always fire on a cylinders. I have never worked so many hours in a day in my life! What if we only have so much energy and working these long hours shortens the life span? Anyway Pink, Monk and Ms. Johnson (who often calls Pink Ate (pronounced Ah-tay in their native tongue) were involved in a lumpia wrapping contest. Ms. Johnson was initially producing some weathered lumpia. Monk was producing some interesting swaddling wrapped egg rolls. I know that I give Monk the business -- I do love her — but she gives me SO MUCH MATERIAL! How can I not? So sorry Sarge. Maybe if you encouraged your partner Louise (or would she be Thelma) to do more quirky stuff, I could illuminate her in these accounts. No worries though, the blog is young. So they are in this lumpia wrapping mode and the loony ensues. For pure people watching, this is quite the rewarding adventure.

Oh, just wanted to share that we are making such an impact in the world (regular customers as well as appearances) that we now have our first job on the books for January 2013, yes I said 2013. Now a lot can happen between now and then, but at least we have something on the books…13 months from now.

The long silence we have maintained is because the purple condor is flying over the pink rainbow…code for we are under surveillance. What? You didn’t know? The brain-trust has been operating under a dual burden of dual employment. 8 hours a day to the man and 10 hours to our baby (the self determination experience). As you can imagine the man would start to wonder…is your hobby interfering with what you do for me? My response…this is a recession. All hands on deck and we all need to do what we need to survive. And in this environment it is imprtant for a family to survive“by any means necessary”. So what does that mean for Pinx? Well half of the brain-trust is now dedicating a higher percentage and ratio of time to machine while the other is still working split time. Week ending 11/19/11 Pinx will have 3 jobs. Week ending 11/12/11 Pinx was only in the streets once. Why do we say this? Part disbelief — who would have thought that eating your dessert first would catch on like this? Part disbelief — seriously who would have thunk it? At this point the snowball that was rolling down the hill gathering steam is running at about 25 MPH steamrolling everything in its way. The government twins have reaped the benefits from the pancakes, to the tune of new bikes. Benjamin Button has had the opportunity to get some work experience. Monk has been able to quit her side hustle. All I want for Festivus is an Audi A5. I’m just serious. No? Sad face. In the meantime, we are pouring the profits into the company to expand our infrastructure: equipment and fleet vehicles are next! Seriously I think an A5 would be a great look for the waffle mobile. Every Chief Waffle Engineer should have one. Our marketing efforts are producing a steady stream of jobs. But now we have to look to the future…the future smells like herb roasted, brined turkey, and bacon mac and cheese, with cornbread dressing (the difference between dressing and stuffing — because technically the ingredients and texture are exactly the same — is that dressing is on the side of the bird, while stuffing is inside the bird), candied yams, homemade cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, and the like. And that is before it is time for the rest of the holiday fare. Is there some subliminal programming that we all receive in elementary school that impresses upon us that we must spend the thanksgiving holiday sequestered in the kitchen preparing meals for family, friends, and frenemies? What happens if you don’t like cooking? What is that person supposed to do? The sad thing is that there are not enough options for the culinary challenged. I was fortunate in that my father could throw down and Thanksgiving was his holiday of choice. Mother…not so much with the holiday cooking. But then along comes Iron Chef P the diet assassin. I saw a picture of myself today…I am working out tomorrow! So if you know someone who is bound to opening their home to the family to celebrate, but they don’t want to COOK…point them to Pinx. The turkey will be juicy, the mac and cheese will be memorable. The dressing will be unforgettable and the cranberry sauce will be incomparable. Life is short…eat something memorable.